NOTE TO EDITORS: The Following Is an Investment Opinion Being Issued by AnalystChoice.com (AC).

NOTE TO EDITORS: The Following Is an Investment Opinion Being Issued by Ridgewater Equity (RWE).

Nordstrom (NYSE: JWN) closed yesterday at $34.23. So far the stock has hit a 52-week low of $6.61 and 52-week high of $36.52. Nordstrom stock has been showing support around 33.24 and resistance in the 34.98 range. Technical indicators for the stock are Bullish and S&P gives JWN a neutral 3 STAR (out of 5...(Click the story link or go to http://www.marketintelligencecenter.com for the full story)

Nordstrom (NYSE: JWN) closed yesterday at $34.87. So far the stock has hit a 52-week low of $6.61 and 52-week high of $36.52. Nordstrom stock has been showing support around 34.12 and resistance in the 35.48 range. Technical indicators for the stock are Bullish and S&P gives JWN a neutral 3 STAR (out of 5)...(Click the story link or go to http://www.marketintelligencecenter.com for the full story)

Nordstrom (NYSE: JWN) closed yesterday at $34.87. So far the stock has hit a 52-week low of $6.61 and 52-week high of $36.52. Nordstrom stock has been showing support around 34.12 and resistance in the 35.48 range. Technical indicators for the stock are Bullish and S&P gives JWN a neutral 3 STAR (out of ...(Click the story link or go to http://www.marketintelligencecenter.com for the full story)

Target's focus on affordable fashion in apparel and housewares has turned from blessing to curse.

Some retailers are putting up some amazing numbers online, and it could point towards successful retail plays.

Nordstrom Inc. (JWN) continues to trade near its 52-week high on the heels of better than expected Q3 results. Company Description Nordstrom, Inc operates as a specialty fashion retailer for men, woman and children in the United States. The company was founded in 1901 and has a market cap of $7.38 billion. The retail sector has been [...]

($JWN) Nordstrom Incorporated – Earnings Estimates Rising

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – November 20, 2009 – Four free stock picks are being made available today on Zacks.com. The industry’s leading independent research firm highlights one Zacks #1 Rank Strong Buy or a Zacks #2 Rank Buy stock for each of the four main styles of investing: Aggressive Growth, Growth & Income, Momentum, and Value.

The four highlighted picks are: Universal Health Services, Inc (UHS), Crane Co. (CR), Nordstrom Inc. (JWN) and Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (CTB).
    
Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Four daily picks are offered free at http://at.zacks.com/?id=5607

Zacks #1 Rank Stocks have nearly tripled the S&P 500 since 1988, producing an average annual return of +26%. Performance has been notable even during volatile and down times. For example, during the last bear market, 2000-2002, the market tumbled -37.6% – but Zacks #1 Rank stocks gained +43.8%.

Here is a summary of today's selected stocks that are now highly rated by Zacks:          
       
Aggressive Growth – Universal Health Services, Inc (UHS)
Universal Health Services, Inc remains a good value as the Zacks Consensus Estimate continues to climb.

Zacks Guide to Aggressive Growth Investing (free!): http://at.zacks.com/?id=4309

Growth & Income – Crane Co. (CR)
Crane Co., which boasts an industry-leading yield of 2.7%, recently declared a quarterly dividend of 20 cents per share. The company also posted solid results for the third quarter, raising the lower end of its earnings outlook.

Zacks Guide to Growth & Income Investing (free!): http://at.zacks.com/?id=4310
  
Momentum – Nordstrom Inc. (JWN)
Nordstrom Inc. continues to trade near its 52-week high on the heels of better than expected Q3 results.

Zacks Guide to Momentum Investing (free!): http://at.zacks.com/?id=4311

Value – Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (CTB)
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company has surprised on estimates 4 consecutive quarters by an average of 330.99%. The company trades is attractively valued with a forward P/E of 10.6.

Zacks Guide to Value Investing (free!): http://at.zacks.com/?id=4312

How to Regularly Access Picks from the Zacks Rank Discovery for Free:  http://at.zacks.com/?id=5607
 
Underlying the four free stock picks is a simple truth that first appeared in a Financial Analysts Journal article published in 1979. Leonard Zacks, a Ph.D. in Mathematics from M.I.T. found that "earnings estimate revisions are the most powerful force impacting stock prices."  Zacks #1 Rank is awarded to a stock when analysts sharply upgrade their estimates of what the company will earn.

Today, Zacks is promoting its stock recommendations by offering four daily picks free to those who register at http://at.zacks.com/?id=5607 

About Zacks

Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978 by Len Zacks. The company continually processes stock reports issued by 3,000 analysts from 150 brokerage firms.  It monitors more than 200,000 earnings estimates, looking for changes.

Then, when changes are discovered, they’re applied to help assign more than 4,400 stocks into five Zacks Rank categories: #1 Strong Buy, #2 Buy, #3 Hold, #4 Sell, and #5 Strong Sell. This proprietary stock-picking system continues to outperform the market by a nearly 3-to-1 margin. 
  
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Disclaimer: Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investors should always research companies and securities before making any investments. Nothing herein should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security.

Zacks.com

Aggressive Growth Stocks:
Contact: Bill Wilton
Phone: 312-265-9277

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Growth & Income Stocks:
Contact: Alex Kolb
Phone: 312-265-9149

or

Momentum Stocks:
Contact: Michael Vodicka
Phone: 312-265-9226

or

Value Stocks:
Contact: Tracey Ryniec
Phone: 312-265-9232

Email: pr@zacks.com
Visit: www.zacks.com

Visit http://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
 

 

Zacks Investment Research

Nordstrom Inc. (JWN) continues to trade near its 52-week high on the heels of better than expected Q3 results. Company Description Nordstrom, Inc operates as a specialty fashion retailer for men, woman and children in the United States. The company was founded in 1901 and has a market cap of $7.38 billion. The retail sector ...

Nordstrom Inc. (JWN) continues to trade near its 52-week high on the heels of better than expected Q3 results.

Company Description

Nordstrom, Inc operates as a specialty fashion retailer for men, woman and children in the United States. The company was founded in 1901 and has a market cap of $7.38 billion.

The retail sector has been weak for the last year as consumers continue to struggle with overbearing debt and high unemployment. But in spite of the challenges shares of Nordstrom have posted big gains as the company adjusts to the challenging environment. This dynamic showed up on Nov 13 when Nordstrom posted better than expected third-quarter results.

Third-Quarter Results

Same-store sales were down 1.2% from last year, but net sales were up 3.5% to $1.87 billion. Earnings came in one penny ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate at 38 cents per share. The company has beat in each of the last four quarters by an average of 3 cents, or 8%.

Nordstrom noted that its Nordstrom Rack store, a value oriented extension of the its main store, saw increased demand, with same-store sales up 3% from last year. The company also noted that its 90 basis point expansion in gross margin was largely offset by a jump in performance related compensation.

Estimates Rising

The good quarter pushed estimates higher. The current-year estimate is up 6 cents in the last week to $1.82, while the next-year estimate is up 9 cents to $2.17, a 19% growth projection.

Valuation

Based upon the current-year estimate, this stock trades with a P/E multiple of 18X, a slight premium to the overall market.

The Chart

Shares of JWN are up big over the last 4 months after bottoming out just above $18 in early July. Shares have been hovering near the 52-week high for the last few weeks ahead of prime-time holiday spending season.

Zacks Investment Research

On a day when the market is stuttering, specialty retailer Chico's FAS, Inc. (CHS) finds itself in the green by about 10.5%. That's more than enough to make it a Zacks #1 Rank Top Performer for Wednesday.

The advance can be attributed to a strong fiscal third-quarter report announced earlier today. EPS improved on a year-over-year basis and topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate, while sales also moved higher.

Volume today is around 11.5 million shares, which is almost triple the daily average of 4.1 million.

Chico's FAS is a women's specialty retailer of private branded, sophisticated, casual-to-dressy clothing, intimates, complementary accessories, and other non-clothing gift items.

It is part of the retail-apparel/shoe industry. On today's Zacks #1 Rank List, there are 4 other names from this space: American Apparel, Inc. (APP), which was recently a Zacks #1 Rank Top Performer on Nov 13, J. Crew Group, Inc. (JCG), Limited Brands, Inc. (LTD) and Nordstrom, Inc. (JWN). (There are 226 stocks in total on the Zacks #1 Rank List today.)

Strong FQ3 for Chico's FAS

Earlier today, Chico's FAS announced fiscal third-quarter earnings per share of 13 cents, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 7 cents by nearly 86%. CHS has now either met or surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 9 consecutive quarters; meeting 3 times and beating 6 times. Looking at the last 4 quarters, it has amassed and average surprise of about 40%.

The result also marked a solid year-over-year advance from 1-cent per share.

Sales rose 13.3% to $446.9 million from $394.2 million. Meanwhile, same-store sales increased 12.8%. These are encouraging developments given the still sluggish economy and the fact that many companies are beating EPS estimates due to cost cutting rather than revenue growth.

Earnings Estimates

Of course, earnings estimates are not yet reflecting Chico's FAS' quarterly report from earlier today. There are now 18 covering analysts for this year and 19 covering analysts for next year pouring over the data; we'll watch how this impacts the estimates going forward.

At the moment though, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for this fiscal year, ending January 2010, is at 28 cents per share. That outlook has advanced 21.7% in 3 months and 3.7% in 30 days.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for next fiscal year, ending January 2011, is at 54 cents, or 93% better than the guidance for this fiscal year. Expectations for this period have advanced 20% in 3 months and 1.9% in 30 days.

Zacks Investment Research

Schaeffer's analyst Morgan Searcy takes a look at news on the Street before the market open

Tom Dorsey and Tammy DeRosier - News You Can Use

Schaeffer's analyst Morgan Searcy takes a look at news on the Street before the market open.

Schaeffer's analyst Morgan Searcy takes a look at news on the Street before the market open.

Schaeffer's analyst Morgan Searcy takes a look at the major news of the day on Wall Street.